If the Amarillo Sox were going to break a seven-game losing streak in the next-to-last game of their current homestand, they didn’t mind having to resort to dramatics.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Jake Luce, one of the newest players on a team hit hard by injuries, singled to right field to bring home the winning run in a 4-3 win against the El Paso Diablos on Saturday night at Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium.

The feeling was as much one of relief as satisfaction considering the way the previous week had gone. Starting pitching had let the Sox down and the offense didn’t get any big hits — two situations that ended Saturday.

Left-hander Chuck Lofgren threw seven outstanding innings and threw well enough to win. However, Lofgren didn’t get the decision.

That mattered little in the bottom of the ninth, as Luce stroked El Paso reliever Tim Adleman’s first pitch to right to bring home Garrett Rau with the winning run.

“I was just looking for a pitch to hit in that situation, and I got it right away,” Luce said. “I’ve got to give credit to Chuck. He had some bad luck, and he deserved to win.”

The Diablos scored an unearned run off Amarillo reliever Wes Littleton in the top of the eighth to tie it, but that was really the only blemish on the Sox pitchers in the final six innings. Chase Johnson gave up a single to lead off the ninth, but retired the next three batters to give the Sox a chance to win it in the bottom of the inning.

Instead of giving in to frustration, the Sox (36-38) embraced the situation and broke their losing streak.

“It was a big game,” Sox manager John Harris said. “Our pitchers had been good all year, but they’d been in a slump. Chuck really set us up to win.”

With the game tied at 3-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Rau belted Adleman’s second pitch into the corner in left field for a double. It was the first time since the fourth inning the Sox had gotten a runner to second base.

“You’ve got to get on base any way possible, and (Adleman) happened to hang a curveball and I turned on it to get things started,” Rau said. “It’s been a rough week. Here at home we’re supposed to win.”

Rau moved over to third on a well-placed sacrifice bunt by Derrick Pyles, bringing Luce to the plate. It was a perfect chance for the newcomer to make a positive impression on his teammates.

One pitch later it was over, as Luce’s single allowed Rau to trot home and end the losing streak.

“I wanted to get us our first win since I’ve been here,” Luce said. “I was just fortunate enough to be in that spot.”

While Lofgren didn’t get the win, his effort didn’t go to waste. He struck out eight and gave up only five hits, retiring the final seven batters he faced.

The Sox got on the board in the bottom of the first on a two-run, two-out single by Van Pope, driving home Luce and Harrison Kain. Amarillo took the lead with an unearned run in the fourth as Kain’s bad-hop double drove home Rau.